Henry Jervey

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Henry Jervey (June 5, 1866 – September 30, 1942) was a United States Army major general who led the Army’s Operations Division during World War I. He was born in Dublin, Virginia, and died in Charleston, South Carolina. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Jervey trained as a civil engineer, graduating first from the United States Military Academy in 1888. He worked with the Army Corps of Engineers on river and harbor projects, including work on the Mississippi River and Florida’s coast. He served in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War and later taught at the Military Academy and the Army War College.

In 1917, as the United States entered World War I, Jervey took on key wartime roles. He commanded the 6th Regiment of Engineers and the Engineer Officers’ Training Camp, and briefly led the 41st Division. In December 1917 he moved to the War Department General Staff and in February 1918 became director of operations (G-3). He was promoted to major general in October 1918 and earned the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his work coordinating plans and mobilization. After the war, he commanded the 11th Field Artillery Brigade in Hawaii and retired from the army in 1922. Congress later restored his major general rank in 1930.

Jervey also wrote Warfare of the Future (1917), a book about military strategy. He received foreign honors from Britain, France, Italy and Belgium. He was married twice, first to Katharine Erwin (they had a son, William Wesson Jervey) and then to Henrietta Postell Jervey. Jervey died in 1942 and was buried at Arlington, beside his first wife and son. His former superior, General Peyton C. March, praised him as a dedicated and capable officer who worked late into the night and earned the respect of all who served with him.